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March 18th, 2024

BargainFinder 443: AccurateShooter’s Deals of the Week

AccurateShooter Deals of the Week Weekly Bargain Finder Sale Discount Savings

At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.

NOTE: All listed products are for sale to persons 18 years of age or older. No products are intended for use by minors.

1. Graf & Sons — Sightron Scope Sale — Save 20-22%

scope sale
Big savings on Sightron Scopes for competition and hunting

Graf’s is running a major Sightron Scope Sale this month with 20-22% savings on many excellent optics. Get a 10-50x60mm SIII for $1179.99 or the amazing 5-40×56 SVIII ED for $2579.99, a $649.00 savings! Hunters can get the rugged 4-12x40mm S1 AO Scope for just $249.99 (20% off), and AR shooters will like the compact 1-6x24mm STAC AR1 scope for $399.99 (20% off). Note: Grab these bargains soon as sale inventory is limited.

2. Natchez — Frankford Arsenal SALE, up to 27% Off

frankford arsenal sale
Great prices on reloading kits, powder dispensers, tumblers and more

Frankford Arsenal makes some very effective and affordable products. Right now Frankford Arsenal products are on sale up to 27% off at Natchez. We recommend the Frankford Arsenal Essentials Reloading Kit ($299.99, $110 off), which has the excellent F-1 press, manual powder dispenser, priming tool, compact scale and more. We also recommend the Intelli-Dropper Powder Dispenser ($169.99, $60 off), the Case Prep Center ($114.99), and the Platinum Rotary Tumbler System ($149.99).

3. Midsouth — Hornady L-N-L Classis Reloading Kit, $389.99

hornady class reloading kit midsouth sale
Major $170 savings plus free Sonic Cleaner and 500 free bulleta

Right now Midsouth is offering Hornady’s L-N-L Classic Single Stage Press Reloading Kit for $389.99, a $170.00 discount. This Kit includes a nice press, manual powder dispenser, electronic scale, priming tool, powder trickler, chamfer/debur tool, case lube, shell block and more. As a special promo, this week Midsouth is including a FREE Sonic Cleaner, a $159.99 value. Plus, as an added bonus Hornady will provide 500 FREE Bullets with Kit purchase.

4. Creedmoor Sports — Starline Rifle Brass IN STOCK on SALE

starline brass sale
Good American-made cartridge brass at attractive prices

Starline Brass is quality, American-made cartridge brass that offers good consistency and useful life at a much lower price than some other leading brands. If you shoot PRS/NRL matches or run a varmint rifle, Starline may meet your expectations. At Creedmoor Sports you can save on popular cartridge types such as 6mm Creedmoor — now $69.95 for 100 cases. You could pay $120 or more for other brands of brass.

5. Amazon — Pegboard Wall Organizer, $119.79

pegboard wall board sale
Very effective wall-mounted tool and parts storage solution

Here’s a great option for your reloading room or garage. There’s only so much space on the bench to store tools so why not take advantage of your wall space? The well-designed Ultrawall Pegboard Wall Organizer provides 48″ x 36″ of pegboard complete with buckets, hooks, and more ensuring that your tools and parts are organized, yet easy to access.

6. Amazon — RCBS Universal Priming Tool, $64.99

rcbs primer sale
Recommended tool that adapts to multiple case rim sizes

The RCBS Universal Hand Primer tool can handle both large rim and small rim cases without any parts change. Leverage is good and the primer feeding tray is very reliable. This is a recommended tool for both beginning handloaders and expert-level reloaders. Another good feature of this tool is a patented safety gate that isolates the primer seating operation from the primer supply, lowering risk of tray detonation.

7. Amazon — 54″ Bulldog Rifle Case, $92.45`

bulldog rifle case
Popular case for long-barreled F-Class, Palma, and Long Range rifles

Most rifle cases won’t fit long-barreled competition rifles. This oversize, 54″-long Bulldog 54″ Rifle Case does have the ability to hold long Palma, Benchrest, F-Class, and ELR rigs. This case has a tough 600 denier water-resistant outer shell with lockable zippers and handy large pockets for tools, ammo, and accessories (yes a Garmin GPS will fit in the outside pocket). Inside the case is a plush, heat-resistant quilted inner lining with adjustable Velcro tie downs.

8. Bullet Central — ThorroClean 20% OFF

Thorroclean sale
Tests show this new cleaning product is very effective

Bullet Central has the advanced, new ThorroClean Bore Cleaning System. This cutting-edge cleaning product, developed in partnership with Iosso, is designed to provide shooters with a quick and thorough cleaning solution for their rifle bores. ThorroClean is engineered to completely eliminate copper and carbon fouling with no wear to the bore. NOTE: For a limited time you can get 20% OFF all ThorroCLean products at Bullet Central with code CLEAN20.

9. Amazon — BOG Switcheroo Tripod, $109.54

scope bipod sale
Multi-purpose lightweight tripod for rifles and optics

This BOG Adrenaline Switcheroo Tripod is a great choice as a rifle shooting support AND an optics platform. It can support your PRS rifle, and then adapt to support binoculars or spotting scope. Engineered for portability, this tripod can be used in the sitting, kneeling, and standing positions. The head rotates 360 degrees and has a handy v-shaped support. There is also a plain black BOG Switcheroo tripod version with the same features for just $88.04 on Amazon.

10. Amazon — BESTNULE Punch Kit, $29.99

punch tool kit
Bargain price on very complete punch set for common pin sizes

All gun owners can use a quality set of precision punches for assembly and disassembly tasks. The impressive BESTNULE Punch Kit features 18 punches (both metal and plastic), plus hammer (with detachable head), bench block, and other components — all for just $29.99 at Amazon. The tools fit in a handy plastic carry case that holds hammer and pins securely.

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March 16th, 2024

Applied Ballistics — Rimfire Video, Fill Ratios, and 25% Off Sale

bryand litz science accuracy applied ballistics video

The Applied Ballistics Facebook Page features great, interesting new content posted multiple times each week. This resource features videos, test results, accuracy tips, and samples from Bryan Litz’s excellent books on ballistics and the three volume series on Modern Advancements in Long Range Shooting. Here are some highlights from Applied Ballistics’ Facebook posts from the past two weeks. Plus there’s a discount code, READ2024, that can save you 25% on Applied Ballistics books purchased in the month of March.

.22 LR Super Slow Motion Video — Watch the Bullet!

Watch .22 LR Rimfire Projectile Exiting Rifle Muzzle
This video, filmed with an ultra-high-speed camera, shows the milliseconds in time as a .22-caliber bullet travels the first 11 inches after leaving a .22 LR rifle barrel. Applied Ballistics states: “Notice that the bullet is fully obturated to the internal bore dimension — the step/rebate that exists on the unfired bullet where it meets the case gets expanded (obturated) and doesn’t exist on the fired bullet.”

How Important is Case Fill Ratio — You May Be Surprised

Conventional reloading practice is to select a powder that gives you a good case fill, meaning 90%-100% fill ratio for the cartridge and bullet you’re using. But why?

bryand litz science accuracy applied ballistics videoSome say that a higher fill ratio is good because it prevents the powder from settling differently in the case (which could lead to inconsistent ignition and greater MV SD). This explanation sounds good, and went unchallenged for a long time. However, Applied Ballistics has done some interesting testing that sheds new light on the density issue.

Modern Advancements in Long Range Shooting – Vol. 2 contains the results of Applied Ballistics tests of five different cartridge types — .223 Rem to .338 Lapua — loaded with different powders to produce fill ratios of 80%, 90%, and 100%. The testers wanted to see if 100% fill ratios actually gave better results (lower MV SDs) than the lower fill ratios.

Results of testing 3 different loads in 5 different cartridges — The highest MV SD was in fact measured in an 80% fill ratio load. However, the lowest MV SD was also measured for a different 80% load! Seems like the more we learn, the more questions we have. An informative Applied Ballistics podcast covers the Fill Ratio test. Visit Thescienceofaccuracy.com to access this and interesting podcasts.

EDITOR’s NOTE: There were multiple comments from Facebook readers stating that fill ratios 90% and above worked more consistently for them. And the reloading manuals warn against very low fill ratios.

Get 25% Off Applied Ballistics Books in March 2024

Applied Ballistics, through its Science of Accuracy webstore, is currently offering big savings on its popular books — considered to be the best print resources about rifle accuracy/ballistics ever published. This month you can save 25% on all six Applied Ballistics book titles by respected expert (and past national champion) Bryan Litz. Use Code READ2024 to get 25% of one or more of these books.

applied ballistics bryan litz book sale discount code read2024

Get 25% OFF Applied Ballistics Books! Use code: READ2024 at checkout.

applied ballistics bryan litz book sale discount code read2024

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March 14th, 2024

CMP Will Offer Surplus Ammo at Matches Nationwide

CMP Civilian marksmanship programs surplus military ammunition M2 Ball M1 Carbine .30 Caliber .22 LR

CMP Acquires Surplus Ammunition with Upcoming Sales at Matches
In early 2023, the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) announced the acquisition of vast quantities of surplus ammunition. Over the past year, this surplus ammunition was available to CMP customers, and available to competitors during our matches.

The CMP intends on maintaining a surplus ammo inventory large enough to support CMP Matches for the next several years and to provide discounted surplus ammo to competitors attending CMP events. All sales will include set limits to remain in compliance with guidelines specified in the Memorandum of Agreement between the Department of the Army and the CMP. The CMP’s current ammunition available for purchase may be viewed on the CMP eStore.

“CMP continues to fulfill its vision to lead the nation in marksmanship excellence providing safe, high quality, and innovative programs with a focus on youth”, said Christie Sewell, CMP’s Chief Programs Officer. “CMP continues to set purchase limits and restrictions to ensure that our competitors will have access to the surplus ammunition.”

CMP Civilian marksmanship programs surplus military ammunition M2 Ball M1 Carbine .30 Caliber .22 LR


NOTE: This video shows an M1 Garand shooting modern CMP M2 Ball ammo NOT older surplus. The surplus M2 Ball ammo obtained by the CMP is older, but should have similar velocities with 150gr bullets.

CMP Civilian marksmanship programs surplus military ammunition M2 Ball M1 Carbine .30 Caliber .22 LR

Commercial and surplus ammunition sales are currently available on the CMP E-Store to qualified individuals. Register for an account or browse the CMP E-Store at https://shop.thecmp.org/browse/Ammo.

CMP Civilian marksmanship programs surplus military ammunition M2 Ball M1 Carbine .30 Caliber .22 LR

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March 14th, 2024

Can You Hit an Egg at 600 Yards? Check Out This Challenge…

6mm BRX egg shoot

egg shoot 600 yards 6 BRXCan you hit an egg at 600+ yards? We mean hit it reliably — not just by luck. To do that you’ll need good shooting skills and a very accurate rifle. How accurate? Well, a chicken egg is, on average, 2 1/4 inches (57 mm) long and 1 3/4 inches (44.5 mm) in diameter. That means to hit an egg (on demand) at 600 yards, you’ll need a rifle capable of 1/3-MOA accuracy (or better). Forum member DukeDuke has such a gun, and he demonstrated its egg-busting prowess in this short video. DukeDuke’s rifle is chambered in 6BRX (a 30° 6BR Improved) and it’s loaded with DTAC 115gr bullets pushed by Alliant Reloder 17. In the video, the eggs are placed on top of poles set 616 yards from the firing line.

See Egg Hit at 38 second mark…

6 BRX 6mm 6BRX wildcat 6mm BR NormaAs you can see in the video, that’s a heck of a nice shooting range where DukeDuke scrambled those eggs at 616 yards. The range is situated just outside of Lake Jackson, Texas. As for the gun… the action is a Rem 700 SA BDL, blueprinted and bedded in a Rem/HS Precision PSS stock. The 31″ barrel is 1:8″-twist Broughton. The “P3″ on the barrel stands for Porter’s Precision Products, Lake Jackson, TX. The rifle was built by Kenneth Porter. The load was 33.5 grains of RL-17 at 2950 fps, with 115gr DTAC bullets touching the lands. Cartridge OAL is 2.400″.

The 6mm BRX was developed by Bob Crone. Retaining the 30° shoulder of the parent 6mmBR case, the BRX has a little less capacity than a 6mm Dasher. Bob told us that his original design for the 6mm BRX always had a .100″ longer head space than a 6mmBR Norma and that he never deviated from that. But after Bob developed the first 6mm BRX, Bill Shehane made a 6mm BRX version that had a .120″ longer head space, and thus some confusion started. In truth, the original 6mm BRX always was (and still is) a chambering with a head space .100″ longer than a 6mm BR Norma.

6mm BRX reamer print, Whitley

Reamer Print provided by AR-X Enterprises LLC, www.6mmAR.com.

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March 12th, 2024

Big Boomer .50 BMG Boasts Impressive Half-MOA Accuracy

.50 BMG Richard King Texas half-MOA

A few seasons ago, Texas gunsmith Richard King built an impressive .50 BMG target rifle for a customer. Equipped with a beefy McMillan stock, this rig has delivered some very impressive accuracy. Check out that target shot during break-in. Using On Target software, we measured this 3-shot group at 0.476″ or 0.454 MOA. Not bad for a beast with VERY serious recoil. Do you think you could beat that 0.476″ with your AR15 shooting puny .223-caliber bullets?

.50 BMG Richard King Texas half-MOA
Compare the dimensions of that massive 50-Cal action to a Rem 700 action in the middle. When you’re shooting a Fifty, size matters!

On Facebook, some folks were surprised a guy could wring that kind of accuracy out of a monster .50 BMG. One wag posted: “Yikes! He will need flinch therapy after shooting that beast.”

Another Facebooker joked: “When shooting a .50 BMG you say…In your best Crocodile Dundee voice…that’s not a gun, THIS is a gun!”

Richard King responded that this customer has quite a bit of experience with jumbo-caliber rifles: “Remember this is the guy that shot a .338 Lapua in a two-day F-Class match. Recoil might actually be easier on this 50, given the fact that it has more weight and a brake.”

.50 BMG Richard King Texas half-MOA

Richard King showed us the monster 13-lb BAT action for this rifle at the 2018 Berger SWN. Honestly, the big BAT .50 BMG action was HUGE — with the bolt fully extended it was the size of your forearm (to the finger tips). Richard joked “This weighs almost as much as an F-TR rifle (before optic) all by itself”.

Richard King Berger SWN BAT action

Specialty Tools for the Big .50 BMG
Yes, the .50 BMG is one huge cartridge. Thankfully, there are some special tools for loading the jumbo-size round. Giraud Tool produces a specialty comparator for the 50-Cal cartridge. The double-ended .50 BMG comparator is quite versatile. In one orientation you can measure base-to-ogive bullet length and also measure cartridge OAL from rim to bullet ogive. When reversed, you can use the comparator to measure cartridge headspace. Priced at $33.00, Giraud 50 BMG Comparator gauge is constructed of 303 stainless and fits most any vernier, dial, or digital caliper. CLICK HERE for more info.

Giraud Tools 50 BMG comparator gauge

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March 11th, 2024

BargainFinder 442: AccurateShooter’s Deals of the Week

AccurateShooter Deals of the Week Weekly Bargain Finder Sale Discount Savings

At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.

NOTE: All listed products are for sale to persons 18 years of age or older. No products are intended for use by minors.

1. Palmetto State Armory — Semi-Auto 12ga Shotgun, $199.99

palmetto GF99 12 gauge shotgun black g-force semi-auto
Great owner reports on versatile, sub-$200 shotgun

This might just be the shotgun deal of the decade. Right now you can get a reliable, optics-ready 12ga semi-auto shotgun for just $199.99. The 8-pound G-Force GF99 DLX Shotgun features a 20″ barrel, full Picatinny rail, and ships with a 5+1 magazine. Weight, unloaded, is 8 pounds. Read the very positive reviews from verified buyers: “Won’t find a better gun for the money… reliability [and] usability 5 stars”; “Cycles perfect. No jamming… go for it”; “Not one malfunction… I’m 100% happy with the purchase.”

2. MidwayUSA — BOG Tripod + Electronic Muffs Combo, $139.99

BOG tripod deathgrips e-max electronic muffs sale combo free shipping
Save $70 on outstanding tripod and electronic muffs combo

Here’s a great combo for PRS/NRL shooters and/or hunters. You get the excellent BOG Deathgrip Tripod AND Caldwell E-Max Electronic Muffs for just $139.99 total. Plus you get free shipping this week from MidwayUSA. The BOG DeathGrip Tripod has rugged aluminum legs and a patented hands-free clamp. The bipod head pans 360 degrees with cant adjustment. The 3-position leg angle lock allows bipod use in standing, kneeling, and prone positions. The comfortable, low-profile E-Max Pro electronic muffs have a 23dB noise reduction rating (NRR).

3. Powder Valley — Hodgdon and Alliant Powders in Stock

powder valley hodgdon varget h4831 h4350 sale in stock
Ultra-popular Hodgdon powders now available at good prices

This is your lucky day — many super-popular Hodgdon powders are in stock right now at Powder Valley. That’s right, you can order Hodgdon Varget, H4350, and H4831SC right now. And other Hodgdon powders are available starting at $32.99/lb. Plus many popular Alliant and IMR powders are in stock at Powder Valley including the outstanding Alliant Reloder 16. NOTE: If your favorite powder sells out, Midsouth also has Varget, RL16, H4350, and other top choices in stock including 8-lb jugs of H4350 and H4831sc for $390.99 ($48.87/lb).

4. CDNN Sports — Walther .22LR Pistol + TrekLite Safe, $289.99

walther p22 target .22 LR handgun pistol sale free hornady lockbox gunsafe
Combo Deal — rimfire pistol with Hornady compact LockBox safe

Everyone should have a good .22 LR rimfire pistol for training and fun shooting. We really like the Walther P22 Target Model. This has excellent ergonomics and a nice trigger. With its forward compensator, this pistol has almost no muzzle flip, allowing very rapid shot strings. Currently you can get this P22 pistol plus a Hornady TrekLite Lockbox XXL portable gun safe — all for just $289.99 at CDNN Sports. Get the Lockbox via Walther mail-in rebate. CLICK HERE for Rebate INFO. NOTE: If you already have a .22 LR Pistol, CDNN has the gun+safe combo offer with other Walther 9mm and .380 ACP handguns.

5. Creedmoor Sports — Canvas Shooter Coat, $120.00

creedmoor sports canvas shooting coat sale
Save 20% ($29.95) on very good canvas shooting coat

Creedmoor Sports makes some of the best shooting coats you can buy. Right now the popular Deluxe Canvas Shooting Coat is 20% off. Regularly $149.99, this is now on sale for $120.00, a $29.99 savings. This coat is very popular with High Power shooters, and Garand/Vintage military rifle shooters. Act soon as this discount ends on Tuesday 3/12/2024 at noon CST.

6. GunZoneDeals — MTM GV-30 CaseGard Gun Vise, $35.99

MTM casegard gun vise
Great price on versatile, well-designed gun vise

Here’s an excellent gun vise on sale for just $35.99. The versatile MTM GV-30 CaseGard Gun Vise supports rifles and shotguns for cleaning/maintenance. High and low forks allow level or angled gun placement. The rubber-padded rotating stock clamp provides a firm hold. The base has 14 different compartments for tools/solvents, plus 11 slots for jags, brushes, and screwdrivers. On the side are tabs for two cleaning rods. This GV-20 vise is made from rugged, solvent-resistant polypropylene plastic. If this sells out on GunZoneDeals, Midsouth has the GV-30 Vise for $38.00.

7. Locked&Loaded — CCI Blazer 9mm Ammo, $219.99 1000 rds

target sports use ammo+ discount membership contest giveaway free shipping ammo plus
Quality 9mm brass-cased ammo at a super-low price — $0.22/round

CCI makes very reliable pistol ammo with reloadable brass cases. Right now you can get 1000 rounds of CCI Blazer 9mm FMJ ammo for just $219.99 at LockedLoaded.com. That price works out to just $11.00 per 50-round box — a fantastic price. This very affordable 115gr Blazer 9mm ammo is excellent for practice/training, and it is more reliable than commercial reloads.

8. Amazon — Caldwell Pistolero Handgun Shooting Rest, $22.39

caldwell rest sale
Handy adjustable rest fits nearly all types of pistols and revolvers

A small compact rest definitely helps with handgun load development and accuracy testing. A good choice (at a great price) is the Caldwell Pistolero shooting rest (#ad), now just $22.39 on sale at Amazon. The Caldwell Pistolero rest is durable, and the support surfaces will not mark your pistols. The hand support is comfortable to use. With 5 inches of rear pad movement and and 3 inches of vertical adjustment in the front, the Pistolero rest accommodates virtually all handguns, providing a stable shooting surface.

9. Amazon — GuardTech Plus Gun Cleaning Kit, $43.50

guardtech rifle pistol shotgun cleaning kit jags brushes calibers
Excellent full-featured cleaning kit for all types of guns

This big GuardTech Plus Cleaning Kit will work for rifles, pistols, and even shotguns. You get a big selection of brushes, jags, and mops that fit calibers .17 to .50. In addition, there are picks and tooth-brush-style brushes for cleaning your action, plus a pull-through cleaning rope. You get all this, in a nice fitted hard case, for just $43.50 on Amazon. Choose green case (as shown), or black case.

10. MidwayUSA — Wheeler Bore Lapping Kit, $21.89

barrel clean lap lapping kit wheeler sale
Simple, inexpensive method to enhance factory barrels — Save 54%

This kit can help polish a rifle bore to remove factory machining marks and reduce fouling. With this kit you coat bullets so they can perform a lapping function as they are fired through the barrel. This Wheeler Lapping Kit consists of three 1 oz. jars of silicon carbide abrasive pastes (220 Cutting Grit, 320 Smoothing Grit, and 600 Polishing Grit) and two steel application plates. NOTE: We do NOT recommend using this kit with high-quality, hand-lapped barrels from makers such as Bartlein, Brux, Krieger, and Shilen.

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March 11th, 2024

Shooting Factory Ammo? Find the True MV Speed in YOUR Rifle

muzzle velocity applied Ballistics MV chronograph

If you are planning to shoot a PRS match with factory ammo or use factory ammo when hunting, you should definitely check the ammo velocity in YOUR rifle. Otherwise your ballistics come-up tables could be all wrong. It’s not uncommon to find that the actual velocity in YOUR gun is NOT the same as the listed velocity on the ammunition package. We explain why in today’s article…

Why You CANNOT Rely on the MV Printed on the Ammo Box!
When figuring out your come-ups with a ballistics solver or drop chart it’s “mission critical” to have an accurate muzzle velocity (MV). When shooting factory ammo, it’s tempting to use the manufacturer-provided MV which may be printed on the package. That’s not such a great idea says Bryan Litz of Applied Ballistics. Don’t rely on the MV on the box, Bryan advises — you should take out your chrono and run your own velocity tests. There are a number of reasons why the MV values on ammo packaging may be inaccurate. Below is a discussion of factory ammo MV from the Applied Ballistics Facebook Page.

Five Reasons You Cannot Trust the Velocity on a Box of Ammo:

1. You have no idea about the rifle used for the MV test.

2. You have no idea what atmospheric conditions were during testing, and yes it matters a lot.

3. You have no idea of the SD for the factory ammo, and how the manufacturer derived the MV from that SD. (Marketing plays a role here).

4. You have no idea of the precision and quality of chronograph(s) used for velocity testing.

5. You have no idea if the manufacturer used the raw velocity, or back-calculated the MV. The BC used to back track that data is also unknown.

1. The factory test rifle and your rifle are not the same. Aside from having a different chamber, and possibly barrel length some other things are important too like the barrel twist rate, and how much wear was in the barrel. Was it just recently cleaned, has it ever been cleaned? You simply don’t know anything about the rifle used in testing.

2. Temperature and Humidity conditions may be quite different (than during testing). Temperature has a physical effect on powder, which changes how it burns. Couple this with the fact that different powders can vary in temp-stability quite a bit. You just don’t know what the conditions at the time of testing were. Also a lot of factory ammunition is loaded with powder that is meter friendly. Meter friendly can often times be ball powder, which is less temperature stable than stick powder often times.

3. The ammo’s Standard Deviation (SD) is unknown. You will often notice that while MV is often listed on ammo packages, Standard Deviation (normally) is not. It is not uncommon for factory ammunition to have an SD of 18 or higher. Sometimes as high as 40+. As such is the nature of metering powder. With marketing in mind, did they pick the high, low, or average end of the SD? We really don’t know. You won’t either until you test it for yourself. For hand-loaded ammo, to be considered around 10 fps or less. Having a high SD is often the nature of metered powder and factory loads. The image below is from Modern Advancements in Long Range Shooting: Volume II.

muzzle velocity applied Ballistics MV chronograph

4. You don’t know how MV was measured. What chronograph system did the manufacturer use, and how did they back track to a muzzle velocity? A chronograph does not measure true velocity at the muzzle; it simply measures velocity at the location it is sitting. So you need to back-calculate the distance from the chrono to the end of the barrel. This calculation requires a semi-accurate BC. So whose BC was used to back track to the muzzle or did the manufacturer even do that? Did they simply print the numbers displayed by the chronograph? What kind of chronograph setup did they use? We know from our Lab Testing that not all chronographs are created equal. Without knowing what chronograph was used, you have no idea the quality of the measurement.

5. The MV data may not be current. Does the manufacturer update that data for every lot? Or is it the same data from years ago? Some manufacturers rarely if ever re-test and update information. Some update it every lot (ABM Ammo is actually tested every single lot for 1% consistency). Without knowing this information, you could be using data for years ago.

CONCLUSION: Never use the printed MV off a box of ammo as anything more than a starting point, there are too many factors to account for. You must always either test for the MV with a chronograph, or use carefully obtained, live fire data. When you are using a Ballistic Solver such as the AB Apps or Devices integrated with AB, you need to know the MV to an accuracy down to 5 fps. The more reliable the MV number, the better your ballistics solutions.

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March 10th, 2024

Cutaway Cartridges — Take a Peek INSIDE Loaded Ammunition

sliced cutaway ammo ammunition FOG diagram

Here’s something you don’t see every day — the inside of loaded cartridges, sliced halfway through. This lets you see how bullet core, jacket, cartridge case, powder, and primer all fit together. Give credit to the folks at FOG Ammunition for creating this interesting series of cut-through ammo images. We show four cartridges here: the .308 Winchester, 9mm Luger, 300 BLK, and .50 BMG. You’ll find two more (the .223 Remington and .45 ACP) at www.FogAmmo.com.

sliced cutaway ammo ammunition FOG diagram

This .308 Winchester model took on a different approach by only cutting the brass case and displaying the full bullet, primer and powder load. A spec amount of powder was used to create the model powder form. An estimated 10% volume was added during the forming process, along with an undetermined amount of air pockets.

sliced cutaway ammo ammunition FOG diagram

This bisection is a 9mm Luger Jacketed Hollow Point round with flake powder held together with super glue. After this self-defense round was cut by a trained professional the round was polished by hand. This might look like stick powder, but those are in fact flakes stacked up in cross-section. Designed in 1901 by Georg Luger, this popular cartridge is used by civilians, military, and law enforcement.

sliced cutaway ammo ammunition FOG diagram

For this model of the .300 AAC Blackout (aka 300 BLK), a Dremel tool was used to create a pie cut within the bullet and brass case. A measured amount of power, roughly 65% of spec charge, was placed inside the case with super glue. This cartridge was originally optimized for subsonic use with a suppressor, so the amount of powder used is small relative to the nominal case capacity. That leaves more room for the relatively large .30-caliber bullet.

sliced cutaway ammo ammunition FOG diagram

Last but definitely not least is the .50 Caliber BMG round (aka .50 Browning Machine Gun). Famed for its wartime use in the M2 Machine gun, the .50 BMG round is also used in civilian Long Range competitions. A typical .50 BMG cartridge holds over 225 grains of powder. That’s almost ten times the amount in a 5.56×45 NATO Round! To demonstrate the size of the .50 BMG, check out that .223 Rem for comparison.

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March 9th, 2024

Saturday Movies: New Product Features by Ultimate Reloader

Ultimate reloader youtube video channel new products

UltimateReloader.com offers some of the most thorough firearms and reloading tool tests on the internet. And UltimateReloader’s YouTube Channel has over 1040 great videos that showcase reloading tools, accurate firearms, precision optics, gunsmithing methods, and top-tier reloading components. For today’s Saturday at the Movies feature, we showcase five videos recently created by Gavin Gear and his UltimateReloader team. These videos highlight a superb Long-Range Target Camera, the remarkable AMP Press, the new Hornady PRC cartridges, and other interesting topics.

Since starting his channel in 2007, Gavin has released over 1040 videos showcasing reloading products, gunsmithing, and gun testing. Thanks to Gavin’s movie-making skills and hard work, his YouTube Channel now has 335,000+ subscribers. And over the years Gavin’s videos have received over 73.8 million views. Gavin’s videos have benefited shooting enthusiasts and hand-loaders around the globe.

Ultimate reloader youtube video channel new products

Multiple Muzzle Brake Performance with .224 Bullets

This video includes some serious testing of muzzle brakes in three bore sizes. One each designed for .224 caliber, 6.5mm caliber, and .308 caliber. The goal of the project was to see how brake bore affected recoil reduction, and accuracy. Gavin’s team uses two rifles, one AR and one 22-250 bolt action. Gavin’s testing equipment allows him to plot recoil force with great precision. What did they find: “With optimized clearance [.224 brake] we got the lowest recoil”.

Ultimate reloader youtube video channel new products

New LongShot Ranger and Ranger Plus Target Cameras

Longshot offers superb, reliable, high-resolution target cameras favored by top shooters around the world. Now LongShot is introducing a new Ranger series of target cameras starting at just $199.00 for the basic Ranger which runs at 100 yards. For those who regularly shot at longer distances, the new Ranger Plus reaches out to 1000 yards. Right now you can get the impressive Ranger Plus for a $299.00 “Pre-Order” sale price. The features of these two systems are compared in the graphic below:

Ultimate reloader youtube video channel new products longshot ranger plus target cameras Long range

Bergara Premier Competition Rifle in 6GT

The 6GT is a popular new cartridge originally developed for the PRS/NRL discipline. It has a case capacity and case length between the 6 Dasher and the 6mm Creedmoor. This allows it to rival the accuracy of the 6 Dasher with less recoil than a 6mm Creedmoor, and potentially longer barrel life because less powder is burned with each shot. In this video Gavin tests the new Bergara factory precision rifle chambered in 6 GT. This rifle is based around the Bergara Premier action with a stainless No. 7 taper 1:7.5″-twist barrel, set in an MPA BA chassis. CLICK HERE for full test article on UltimateReloader.com.

Ultimate reloader youtube video channel new products bergara premier competition 6gt

AMP Mark II DB and RAMP Bipod at SHOT Show 2024

Top Benchrest, F-Class, Palma, ELR, Silhouette, and PRS/NRL shooters use AMP annealers. These impressive, computer-controlled annealing machines allow you to get optimal, consistent neck tension. In addition, regular AMP annealing can significantly extend the life of cartridge brass. With good brass now running $130-$160 per 100 cases, you definitely want your brass to last as long as possible.

Ultimate reloader youtube video channel new products AMP Annealer Mark II Ramp bipod

Shown above is the innovative RAMP Bipod from the New Zealand team that created the revolutionary AMP Annealing machine. This new RAMP Bipod allows easy yet secure elevation changes with the front bipod.

Caldwell Flash Bang Target Impact Indicators

We like reactive targets for the instant gratification that comes with a hit. When shooting steel it’s great to get that rewarding “ping” on impact. But sometimes it’s hard to hear, especially when the targets are far away. Caldwell’s Flash Bang target hit indicators solve this problem, providing visual feedback for the shooter, spotter, and spectators. Gavin notes that: “These small units will mount to any steel target and are incredibly affordable. At $37, replacing them if they are accidentally shot is not a huge loss. In fact, Caldwell is the first company to bring a hit indicator to market that doesn’t eat a hole in your wallet.”

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March 8th, 2024

GunBroker Marks 25th Year — Over 1 Billion Listings Since Start

gunbroker gunbroker.com new product 25th anniversary online gun sales

gunbroker gunbroker.com new product 25th anniversary online gun salesTwenty-five years ago, GunBroker.com, the world’s first firearms-centric auction marketplace, was launched. Over the past 25 years, GunBroker.com has offered firearms and outdoor enthusiasts a safe and secure place to buy and sell goods. Launched in 1999 as a response to eBay’s rejection of firearms and firearm-related auctions, GunBroker.com has led the way in listing capabilities, and volume/range of products. What began as a listing service for individual sellers has expanded into a powerful sales engines for FFL dealers, retailers, and manufacturers. So it now serves for both individual sales and commercial sales.

New Gunbroker Features
In the two and a half decades since 1999, what began as an auction-based platform has evolved to offer Buy It Now pricing, Take a Shot offers, Buy Now Button on manufacturer websites and self-service seller advertising. Brand Stores, coupon and rebate centers, and an editorial department have followed.

And, for convenience, from the Gunbroker home page you can get one-click access to all major product types:

Rifle Sales | Handgun Sales | Shotgun Sales | Optics Sales | Ammunition Sales

Over One Billion Gunbroker Listings Since 1999
In late 2023, GunBroker posted its one-billionth listing. Over 36 million additional items have been listed since the one billion milestone. Gunbroker truly is the world’s largest marketplace for firearms and accessories.

Multi-Item Cart Capability Coming Soon
Looking ahead, the site will soon launch multi-item cart capability along with other new functionalities designed to make the site easier for buyers and more efficient for sellers.

“We’re celebrating the past 25 years” said Jared Smith, Chief Executive Officer. “But we’re also deeply focused on how we improve GunBroker.com over the next few months. Over the next few weeks, you’ll see these updates rolling out and we believe these will continue to make GunBroker.com the premiere marketplace for all things outdoors.”

Gunbroker Works with Nationwide Network of FFL Dealers
gunbroker gunbroker.com new product 25th anniversary online gun salesSellers have come to rely on GunBroker.com to help connect them with a nationwide pool of Federal Firearm License holders, ensuring a safe, secure network to handle firearms transfers across state lines. This web of dealers helps facilitate firearms transfers that are compliant with all federal, state and municipal regulations.

GunBroker.com allows small, independent shops to reach a nationwide audience of consumers, and helps buyers across the U.S. access the newest products the second they are available. For collectors, GunBroker.com offers hard-to-find firearms and accessories, with future plans designed to make it an even more valuable tool.

CEO Jared Smith added: “We celebrated the anniversary at SHOT Show, but we’re not really big on looking to the past. To remain the leader in this space, we’ve got to keep looking ahead, innovating and improving the site on a constant basis. The next 12 months is going to be evolutionary for certain, and revolutionary in many ways.”

gunbroker gunbroker.com new product 25th anniversary online gun sales

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March 7th, 2024

Reloading Powder Shape Properties — What You Need to Know

Vihtavuori loading propellant reloading powder N133 N150 N140 N550 ball flake stick extruded perforated powders

POWDER GRAIN SHAPES — What You Need to Know

The shape of powder grains has a profound effect on the performance of the powder charge, as it concerns both pressure and velocity. There are multiple powder shapes including flake, ball, and extruded or “stick” (both solid and perforated).

So how does powder grain shape affect pressure and muzzle velocity?
In general, it can be said that powder that burns progressively achieves a desired muzzle velocity at lower maximum pressure than a powder that burns neutrally, not to mention a degressive powder. As grain size increases, the maximum pressure moves towards the muzzle, also increasing muzzle blast. Muzzle velocity and pressure can be adjusted by means of the amount of powder or loading density, i.e. the relationship between the powder mass and the volume available to it. As the loading density increases, maximum pressure grows.

All Vihtavuori reloading powders are of the cylindrical, single-perforated extruded stick type. The differences in burning rate between the powders depend on the size of the grain, the wall thickness of the cylinder, the surface coating and the composition. Cylindrical extruded powders can also have multi-perforated grains. The most common types are the 7- and 19-perforated varieties. A multi-perforated powder grain is naturally of a much larger size than one with a single perforation, and is typically used for large caliber ammunition.

Other types of powder grain shapes include sphere or ball, and flake. The ball grains are typically used in automatic firearms but also in rifles and handguns. The ball grain is less costly to produce, as it is not pressed into shape like cylindrical grains. Flake shaped grains are typically used in shotgun loadings.

Vihtavuori loading propellant reloading powder N133 N150 N140 N550 ball flake stick extruded perforated powders

Web thickness in gunpowder terminology means the minimum distance that the combustion zones can travel within the powder grain without encountering each other. In spherical powders, this distance is the diameter of the “ball”; in flake powder it is the thickness of the flake; and in multi-perforated extruded powders it is the minimum distance (i.e. wall thickness) between the perforations.

The burning rate of powder composed of grains without any perforations or surface treatment is related to the surface area of the grain available for burning at any given pressure level. The change in the surface area that is burning during combustion is described by a so-called form function. If the surface area increases, the form function does likewise and its behavior is termed progressive. If the form function decreases, its behavior is said to be degressive. If the flame area remains constant throughout the combustion process, we describe it as “neutral” behavior.

The cylindrical, perforated powders are progressive; the burning rate increases as the surface area increases, and the pressure builds up slower, increasing until it reaches its peak and then collapses. Flake and ball grains are degressive; the total powder surface area and pressure are at their peak at ignition, decreasing as the combustion progresses.

Learn More with FREE Vihtavuori Reloading APP »

Vihtavuori loading propellant reloading powder N133 N150 N140 N550 ball flake stick extruded perforated powders


This article originally appeared on the Vihtavuori Website.

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March 6th, 2024

Save up to 15% with Spring 2024 Brownells Discount Codes

Brownells discount code savings bargain

If you’ve been thinking about a big purchase at Brownells, here are some money-saving codes. Brownells is currently offering 10% Off a $150+ purchase, 15% Off Bullet purchases, 15% Off Select Optics, and $10 Off a $100 purchase. It’s simple to get these discounts — there are no buyers’ clubs to join, no forms to fill out. Just use the appropriate Discount Code during online check-out.

Listed below are the Codes to use. Simply use the appropriate Code for your purchase at Brownells.com. NOTE: Most of these codes have no listed expiration date, so Brownells could terminate them at any time. Accordingly, we recommend you do your shopping soon. Also if the highest value code no longer works, try a lesser value CODE.

Brownells discount code savings bargain

Coupon Code: BULLET15 — 15% off Bullets
Expiration date: Unknown

Coupon Code: OPTICS15 — 15% off Select Optics
Expiration date: Unknown

Coupon Code: TA10 — 10% off $150+
Expiration date: Unknown

Coupon Code: TTB10 — 10% off $150+
Expiration date: Unknown

Coupon Code: WLS10 — 10% off $150+
Expiration date: Unknown

Coupon Code: TRIGGERED — 10% off $150+
Expiration date: Unknown

Coupon Code: GIFT10 — $10 OFF $100
Expiration date: Unknown

Coupon Code: SMSAVE — $10 OFF $100
Expiration date: Unknown

NOTE: None of the above codes include FREE or Discounted Shipping. But check when you purchase to see if free (or discounted) shipping is offered for your particular item(s). Depending on the weight/size of the item, this might be a better deal than saving $10-$20.

Brownells discount code savings bargain

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